Onan Excessive Vibration

Generator vibrates excessively, causing enclosure or nearby structures to shake

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Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

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Possible Causes

Damaged or collapsed vibration isolators, Imbalanced engine or alternator, Loose mounting hardware, Misaligned coupling (if separate engine/alternator)

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety first: Disable auto-start. Do not place hands on vibrating components while running at full speed.

  • Inspect isolators: Examine rubber vibration mounts between the generator set and base. Replace any that are cracked, oil-soaked, or collapsed.
  • Check mounting bolts: Tighten all base and frame bolts. Loose hardware can amplify vibration.
  • Visual inspection: Observe the rotating assembly for wobble or misalignment. If the alternator or flywheel appears out of true, shut down and contact a technician.
  • Load balance: Ensure loads are balanced across phases on three-phase units to reduce torsional vibration.
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Repair Difficulty

Medium 3/5

Required Part

Vibration Isolator Mounts
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